Banded string handle infusion package assembly



H. o. IRMscHER BANDED STRING HANDLE INFUSION PACKAGE ASSEMBLY Filed May 14, 1956 Aug. 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheetl l m l l. Rw vw mm. m mm Y@ V u Mm M Y@ B W a d 0 l 2 k F .M n-1 2 1 m F F m l- .m v i w.

ll-I. o. lRMscHER BANDED STRING HANDLE INFusIoN PACKAGE ASSEMBLY Filed May 14, 195s Aug. 11. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8.-

w mm mo. 1. ma M k 5:25

ATTORNEYS.

BANDED STRING HANDLE INFUSION PACKAGE ASSEMBLY Application May 14, 1956, Serial No. '584,567

Claims. (Cl. 20G-.5)

This invention relates to the manufacture of infusion packages for various purposes and more particularly is directed to an improved method of manufacture and to articles, such as, tea or coffee bags and the like, each forming an assembly with a band terminating a string handle embodying features of the invention as shown in the drawing and described herein.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve the manufacture of infusion packages of the character described, which shall require simple apparatus in addition to equipment available for producing infusion packages, which packages shall have few and simple parts and be rugged and dependable, which shall permit economical manufacture in quantity output production, which improved assembly shall serve as a string-handle nontangling expedient and at the same time retain the filled bag in said assembly in desired spread flat shape to facilitate packing in cartons and removing. for use, which shall promote a more sanitary and vhygienic handling of the package in use, and which `shall be practical and eicient to a high degree.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combination of elements, arrangement of parts and method steps which will be exempliiied in the constructions and methods hereinafter disclosed, 'the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which various illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views showing successive steps of an improved method for producing a banded assembly of string handle infusion packages, such as, tea bags, embodying the invention, Fig. 1 showing the band applying step, Fig. 2 the staple anchoring attachment of the string handle to ends of thesecuring band and Fig. 3 Vthe folding of the anchored band end into a compact position accessible for ready removal, the tea bags and band assembly being shown in end elevational view. i s

Figs. 4 and 5 are front and rear elevational VVviews of the improved banded string handle tea bag shown in Fig. 3, portions of the band being broken away to expose the concealed non-tangling string handle feature of said assembly. v

Fig. 6 is an enlarged `cross-sectional view taken on line 6 6 in Fig. 5 showing details of the improved banded assembly.

Fig. 7 is a view, partly in perspective, showing the assembly with -the band and bag separated ready for brewing. t

Fig. 8 is a front `elevational view of a .modified `form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 in which a cover-all band is provided and made of vsuiicient width to extend over the entire at sides of the tea bag, a portion .of the cover-all band being 'broken zaway to expose portions of the underlying bag and string handle.

nited States 1;?atCI1ll rl 2,899,045 Patented Aug. 1l, 1959 form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 which may be produced by the method shown in Figs. l to 3 but substituting an adhesive anchoring attachment ,for the ends of the securing band.

Fig. 10 isan enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 10-10 in Fig. 9 showing details of the modied banded assembly,.the tea bag being of the expandable bottom construction, such as shown and described in my Patent No. 2,571,138, granted October 16, 1951.

Figs. l1 and l2'are front elevational views of another modified form of the invention having a ribbon handle of plastic material with the end thereof anchored by heat sealing into the top closure seam of the bag, Fig. l2 being partly in perspective and showing the assembly with the band and bag separated ready for brewing similar to Fig. 7.

. Referring in detail to the drawing, 20 denotes a banded package assembly manufactured to embody the invention. Said package assembly 20 which is here shown may be applied to the vproduction of flattened "pillow-shaped tea and coffee bags 21 and each comprises a bag formed, for example, of any suitable filtering sheet material 21ay having a porous coating lamina for heat sealing used to produce filled tea bags 21 on automatic 'high speed machines (not shown) but such as is fully shown and described in my Patent No. 2,671,026,

granted March 2, 1954, and in my application Vfor patent,

Serial No. 79,034, iiled March l, 1949, for the Manufacture of Packages with String Handles and T ags, See also my said Patent No. 2,571,138. From thepabove,

it is seen that tea bags 21 partly filled with the brewing Vanchored at an edge overlooked end thereof to a midportion of top closure seam 2lb, the other or free end of v'the string handle 22 being attached to a looped web strip band tag 23 which provides said bag 21 with the banded package assembly 20 embodying the invention, as is clear from Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

I Thus, it is seen that said banded package assembly 20 comprises a pillow-shaped filled infusion bag 21 having a string handle 22anchor'ed at one end thereof to bag top closure seam 2lb by a suitable fastener means in the form of a staple 22a and said looped band tag 23 secured by suitable fastening means, such as, a staple 23a, attaching the string handle free end 22b between end portions of the band tag 23. The latter'may have a length in excess of the wound distance thereof about the bag 21 and, as shown in Figs. 2 to 6, has a fold 23b extending across a midportion thereof with the bag bottom fold 21e positioned in said band fold 23b with sideV portions of said band 23 extending from said fold 23h to overlie a bag encircling mid-portion 22C of the string handle 22 between said staples 22a and 23a thereby serving to releasably retain the bag encircling mid-portion .of said string handle 22 in non-tangling condition.

l Said excessive length of the band 23 which extends .beyond vthe bag top closure seam 2lb provides a finger grip extension 23e whereby the bag 21 is positioned for sliding movement with relation to the band 23 so that said bag 21 may be disengaged from the assembly ready for use in brewing, as is clear from Fig. 7.

The band 23 in said package assembly 20 `serves to retain the bag 21 in desirable spread flat condition for packing in cartons and for removal of same from the latter in use while said band 423 with the grip extension 23C aids in promoting sanitary and hygienic handling.

Where a more compact assembly 20 is desired, a cross vfold 23d may be provided on the lingerV grip extension 23C between said top closure seam 2lb and the securing staple 23a to position said grip extension 23C to closely overlie a flattened side of the bag 21. A legend, symbol or other marking 24 may be imprinted on the exposed surface of said band 23, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 9.

The method of manufacturing banded package assembly 20 will be seen from Figs. 1, 2 and 3 to comprise the steps of forming a iilled flattened infusion bag 21 having a string handle 22 anchored at one end thereof to a closure seam 2lb of the bag, winding the string handle 22 about the bag to leave a free end 22h thereof extending beyond closure seam 2lb, folding a web strip 20a about the bag to overlie the wound mid-portion 22C of the string handle encircling the bag with the string handle free end 22b positioned between ends of the folded strip beyond said bag, and fastening the string handle free end 2211 and web strip ends together to provide a finger grip extension 23e` with the bag positioned for sliding movement between folded portions of the web strip. When desired, nger grip extension 23C may be cross-folded between the bag closure 2lb and the web strip fastening as at cross fold 23d to position the grip extension 23C to overlie a flattened side of the bag, as is clear from Fig. 6.

In carrying out the improved method, web strip material M may be provided on a roll source S and advanced by feeding rollers R to extend between and beyond cutting blades B as web strip 20a, the latter being of a predetermined length suicient to encircle the infusion bag and provide an excess for forming said finger grip extension 23C in the manner hereinbefore described. Infusion bag 21 with string handle 22 wound around to have the free end 22b extending beyond top closure seam 2lb is centered with respect to the length of web strip 20a which is severed from the roll of material M by blades B and folded about bag 21, as indicated by the arrows and broken line in Fig. l.

The banded infusion package assembly 20 may be readily removed from an envelope or carton container (not shown) by means of finger grip extension 23C and then prepared for brewing by simply slipping bag 21 laterally out of looped band 23 so that string handle 22 may be unwound from the bag encircling position shown in Fig. 6 to the separated position in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 8, a modified form of the invention is shown as banded package assembly 30. Instead of making the band of less width than bag 21, a full width band 32 may be used in the same manner as described above in assembly 20. Band 32, therefore, is thus sized and shaped to form a complete cover over the surfaces of the attened bag 21 in the assembly 30.

As an alternative construction of the fastening means served by staple 23a of assembly 20, there may be provided banded package assembly 40 shown in Figs. 9 and which has an adhesive or heat sealed joint 43a instead of a staple and also utilizes my said expandable bottom tea bag 41 having the bottom tucked-in pleat 41C.

It may be found desirable to substitute a plastic ribbon for the string handles shown in banded package assemblies 20, 30 and 40, to which as shown in Figs. l1 and 12 there is provided banded package assembly 50 having a ribbon handle 52 anchored by heat sealing one end 52a thereof into closure seam 21d of bag 21 and the opposite end 52h into heat sealed joint 53a of finger grip extension 53C of looped band 53.

The term string handle is used in the claims to include both the string handle 22 and ribbon handle 52.

Banded package assemblies 30, 40 and 50 may be manufactured by the method described above for assembly and shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 by substituting heat sealing for stapling where required.

It is thus seen that there is provided a banded string handle infusion package assembly and method of manufacture thereof whereby the several objects of this invention are achieved and which are Well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as newy and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A banded package assembly comprising in combination with a flattened filled infusion bag having a string handle anchored at one end thereof to a closure seam of the bag, said string handle having a mid-portion thereof encircling the bag in a string non-tangling condition, a web strip having a length in excess of the wound distance thereof about the bag, said web strip having a fold across the mid-portion thereof with the bag position in the fold, side portions of the web strip extending from said fold overlying the bag encircling string handle, end portions of said web strip with a free end of the string handle therebetween extending beyond said closure seam, means securing said web strip end portions and said string handle free end together in overlying relation providing a nger grip extension, the bag being positioned for sliding movement between said web strip side portions for separation therefrom, said separated web strip forming a looped band tag terminating the string handle.

2. A banded package assembly as defined in claim 1 in which a cross fold is provided on the finger grip extension between said closure seam and the securing means to position the finger grip extension to overlie a flattened side of the bag.

3. A banded package assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said securing means includes a staple type fastener.

4. A banded package assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said securing means includes an adhesive joint.

5. A banded package assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said `web strip is sized and shaped to form a complete coverage over the surfaces of the flattened bag in the assembly.

6. A banded package assembly as deiined in claim 1 which includes a legend carried on an exposed surface of said web strip side portions.

7. A method for manufacturing a banded string handle infusion package assembly comprising the steps of folding a web strip to overlie and extend beyond a filled flattened infusion bag formed with a string handle anchored at one end thereof to an edge border of the package and wound thereabout with a free end of said string handle extending over said anchored end and therebeyond, and securing said string handle free end between ends of the folded web strip to provide a nger grip extension.

8. A method as dened in claim 7 including a step of cross-folding said secured end portion of the strip between said edge border of the package and the finger grip extension.

9. A method for manufacturing a banded package assembly of the character described formed with a lled flattened infusion bag having a string handle anchored at one end thereof to a seam closure of the bag, comprising the steps of winding the string handle about the bag to leave a free end of the string handle extending therebeyond, folding a web strip about the bag to overlie the string handle with said free end positioned between ends of the folded web strip beyond said bag, and fastening said string handle free end and web strip end together to provide a finger grip extension with the bag positioned for sliding movement between folded portions of the web strip.

10. A method as defined in claim 9 including the step of cross-folding the web Strip btween the package seam 5 closure and said web strip fastened 'ee end to position 2,291,625 the nger grip extension to overlie a attened side of the 2,468,464 bag. 2,490,057

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 229 536 2,148,587 Slocum Feb. 28, 1939 524,535

6 Hirschhorn Aug. 4, 1942 Salisberg Apr. 26, 1949 Irmscher Dec. 6, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Feb. 1, 1944 Great Britain Aug. 8, 1940 

